BOSTON — Want to hear some remarkable statistics about the Bruins' special teams against the Canadiens?

The last power-play goal they scored in the postseason against Montreal was April 18, 2009, a goal by Michael Ryder at 19:57 of the second period of Game 2 of a first-round Boston sweep.

The last playoff meeting in which the Habs didn't record a power-play goal was five such games ago, Game 5 of the 2011 series. The player who won that game in overtime? None other than Ryder, the former Bruin and two-time Canadien.

None of which really matters in this second-round series, other than to say that special teams has played a big factor, and it's all on the Canadiens' side.

Montreal has converted 4-of-9 power plays in the first two games, while the Bruins stand at 0 for 5 on their chances. It's as big a reason as any why the Bruins, despite recording 59 percent of the total shot attempts and a 64.9 percent Corsi for, are in a 1-1 series tie as they head to Montreal for Tuesday night's Game 3 at the Bell Centre.

The penalty kill is the bigger issue of the two for Claude Julien. The Bruins have been eaten up by Montreal point man P.K. Subban, the lightning rod who Bruins defenseman and fellow point man Dougie Hamilton said "the way he moves and passes, it's pretty much perfect on how to run a power play."

Subban has two goals and two assists on the power play in this series. He's factored in all four power-play goals for the Canadiens. When he gets the puck at the point, Subban can blast off his slapper, sneak in a wrister or look for cutting forwards for deflections and one-timers.

Subban beat Tuukka Rask with a pair of lasers in Game 1, and Thomas Vanek tipped in two more Saturday.

"He's a good player and he gets the shots through on the net," Bruins center and penalty killer David Krejci said of Subban. "He scored two goals in the first game. So you have to be aware. You've got to take his shot away. Obviously we work on it. But also, you have to be aware of the other guys. Vanek, he's good in front of the net. So just kind of do our homework the right away and go out there and stick with the game plan and see what happens."

The Bruins made an adjustment to their penalty kill during the season. Last season, Julien instructed his forwards to be more aggressive in pressuring point men. Brad Marchand and Daniel Paille excel at this, and were doing it again this season.

But when Dennis Seidenberg went down with a torn-up knee in December, the Bruins' penalty kill collapsed. They allowed multiple power-play goals three times in seven games. Coming out of the Olympic break, Julien had his forwards creep back to help out a defense corps that now had Kevan Miller, Matt Bartkowski, Hamilton and Andrej Meszaros playing more shorthanded minutes.

So through two games, the Bruins have not attacked Subban, who has enough time and space at the point to enjoy a Caribou. The forwards are looking to take away shooting lanes and block shots. They haven't done a good enough job so far, blocking just five of Subban's shots through two games.

"I think it’s not too much room — I think it’s his shot is allowed to get through," Julien said Monday. "That’s where we got to get better. We have just got to take away that shooting lane."

As for the power play, there is less concern. This is not that 2011 team that had Tomas Kaberle at the point and took three playoff rounds before coalescing into a capable unit. The Bruins were third in the NHL on the power play this season and lit up the Red Wings for six PPGs in the first round.

In Game 1 against Montreal, the Bruins had terrific opportunities. On one power play, Jarome Iginla was denied by Carey Price with a game-changing side-to-side save, then missed wide on the rebound. The second unit rolled over the boards and Hamilton hit the post.

On their five power plays — including a minute of 5-on-3 in Game 2 — the Bruins have 11 shots on goal.

“I think it's just finishing,” point man Torey Krug said. “We're moving the puck well, we have pretty solid movement and good looks at the net. It's just we've got to find a way to get it past Carey Price. It's the same as even-strength. We have the opportunity. We've just got to find a way to make sure we have a guy with a net-front presence and getting by him. It's just that finishing touch we've got to find.”

In 2011, the Bruins pushed their luck by going seven games, getting dominated in special teams and still winning the series and the Stanley Cup. The chances of lightning striking twice is unlikely.

“We definitely have to improve,” Krug said. “Special teams wins you hockey games. Their power play has shown up and our penalty kill has not.”